Last Paragraph - Read - Again - Practice

Actual Vs. Counterfeit Intolerance

1/31/2020 - David Limbaugh Townhall.com

One of the most revealing things about the leftist mindset is the usual leftist's lack of self-awareness about his own intolerance, hatefulness and inclusiveness -- unless you distort all those terms to whitewash the reality.

I will never forget reading (and writing about) the unfortunate experience of Professor Janice Price, an education instructor at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. The school suspended Price and cut her salary for subjecting her students to a "hostile environment." Her sin was placing issues of Teachers in Focus magazine on the table in the back of her classroom that contained articles written from a Christian viewpoint. One of the articles offered suggestions on how teachers should approach the issue of homosexuality in public schools.

Price told the students they could read the magazines if they wanted to but were not required to and would not be given assignments on them. The article on homosexuality offended one student, who filed a complaint with the administration. The vice president of academic affairs sent Price a letter of reprimand, saying her "reprehensible" action of providing students with "intolerant" material "served to create a hostile environment" in violation of school policy. This administrator said that the university "cannot tolerate the intolerable." Savor that!

Price's fellow professor and friend Dr. Mary English aptly described the university's attitude. "We have to be tolerant and politically correct in all other areas except Christianity," said English. "So it's okay to be intolerant of Christians as long as Christians are tolerant of everybody else." Interestingly, DePauw was -- and still is -- affiliated with the United Methodist Church. And, no, I'm not kidding.

In the nearly 20 years since this unfortunate incident, the double standard and intolerance against Christians has only intensified. Leftists have grown increasingly intolerant of an expanding universe of things they find intolerable. They are just as lacking in self-awareness as they were then, and even less capable of self-reflection. Their intolerance has, in many cases, turned to hostility and, in some cases, hate.

Now turn with me, if you will, to present-day America, where Sen. Elizabeth Warren seeks the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Warren tweeted a link to a HuffPost article about a U.S. Supreme Court case involving a challenge to a Montana law that provides tax credits for donations to school scholarship organizations that use those donations to fund private schools, both religious and secular. A provision of Montana's constitution (the Blaine Amendment) prohibits the expenditure of public funds for religious purposes, and the Montana Supreme Court struck down the tax credit program, even though the use of these funds isn't technically an expenditure of public funds and even though secular schools benefit along with religious schools.

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether the Montana Supreme Court infringed on the people's free exercise of religion under the First Amendment by invalidating the program. The court is being asked to follow its precedent that states can't discriminate against religious organizations by allowing secular organizations to benefit and not religious ones.

Warren, of course, stands with the Montana Supreme Court. She is against school choice programs and doesn't want any private schools to benefit. But she's especially against Christian schools benefitting, because in her view, they teach hate.

"States should focus on funding public schools, not private ones -- especially not ones that maintain anti-LGBTQ+ policies," Warren tweeted. "We must ensure every kid -- especially LGBTQ+ kids -- can get a high-quality education."

How does allowing people tax credits for donations to private Christian and secular schools jeopardize LGBTQ+ kids' education? Warren knows that's nonsense. Her complaint is that some of the Christian schools that will benefit from the donations use a Christian-based curriculum. She's upset that their student handbooks teach that God created each person as male or female, and that He created marriage to be between one man and one woman. She's distressed that some of the schools require students and visitors to use restrooms and locker rooms that conform to their biological sex.

To have a snowball's chance at the Democratic presidential nomination today, you have to push all the politically correct buttons and pander to the party's leftist base. Sometimes this means you at least have to pretend that you believe certain scriptural passages constitute hate speech. It means you shouldn't tolerate the opinions of those who follow these biblical teachings.

Sadly, there is a growing hostility from the left toward certain biblical teachings and those who subscribe to them -- an insistence on demonizing them for their beliefs. Pretending this isn't true won't make it go away. Calling your attention to it should not be controversial. Pointing out intolerance and hate is not exhibiting intolerance and hate. Rolling over and surrendering one's principles to conform to society's ever-changing norms is not courageous. Pray for wisdom, understanding, peace and harmony.

David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is "Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win." Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

USA Reaping Success in the Face of Shear Disaster

Mexico Is Paying for Trump's Wall

1/26/2020 - Wayne Allyn Root Townhall.com

President Donald Trump has done it again. He just keeps winning. He just keeps proving the Trump Doctrine works magnificently.

Don't look now, but Trump has even built his wall -- and Mexico is paying for it. More on that later.

First, I want to explain how and why Trump is winning like no president in history. Even UFC legend Conor McGregor just called President Trump the GOAT -- as in "the greatest of all time."

It's all because of the Trump Doctrine, a mixture of Trump's unique business acumen and negotiating skills. No other politician in the world has this combination of traits.

Like McGregor, Americans can see Trump is getting tangible results.

First, the economy. Trump has created an economic miracle and a true Goldilocks economy. It's perfect. It's just right.

Trump knows jobs. We have millions of jobs. He knows how to get things moving. We've seen a dramatic bump in economic growth. He focuses with laser-like intensity on the middle class. We're enjoying dramatic middle-class wage growth. He understands stocks. We're in the midst of one of the greatest stock markets of all time. Yet there's virtually no inflation. This is the perfect economy.

Second, Trump understands the art of the deal. Actually, he wrote the book on it. America is the economic engine of the world. Every country in the world needs us more than we need it. Without our consumers, the world is out of business.

So Trump understands America is in the driver's seat. We are in the perfect position to make demands. The rest of the world has no choice but to blink. Under Trump, we are no longer the world's doormat.

We won with China. Trump brought the country to its knees. China came back to the table and capitulated. It was a massive victory for the U.S. economy, small business, manufacturers, farmers, energy companies and American jobs.

We won with Iran. Iran responds only to strength. Trump flexed America's muscle. Not only did Iran cave like a paper tiger but the Iranian people were also emboldened. Trump inspired them to rise up against their evil leaders. Iranian protesters days ago refused to step on an American flag. Trump's strength has changed the world.

Now we get to Mexico. Illegal immigrant crossings nationwide are down almost 80%. At the Arizona-Mexico border, illegal crossings are down by 94%. Once-overcrowded dorms, where we house illegal border crossers, are now empty. And Mexico is keeping illegals who demand asylum on their side of the border. It's another huge Trump victory.

How did he do it? Trump won a masterful negotiation with Mexico. Trump understood Mexico needs us far more than we need it. We could make its economy crumble in a nanosecond. Mexico blinked, just like China and Iran.

Faced with tariffs and economic ruin, Mexican officials agreed to place thousands of troops, at their expense, at both their northern and southern borders. Suddenly, no one can get through. A Mexican journalist just named this human wall of Mexican troops "Trump's Wall."

So, in fact, Trump has built the wall, a human wall. And Mexico is paying for it. Bravo.

Past politicians let the world step all over America and U.S. workers. There's a new sheriff in town. He's a businessman who understands we are the greatest nation in world history, ever blessed by God. And we are in a position of strength to make demands and win negotiations with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

That's the real Trump Doctrine. #WINNING.

Wayne Allyn Root is a CEO, entrepreneur, best-selling author, nationally syndicated talk show host on USA Radio Network and the host of "The Wayne Allyn Root Show" on Newsmax TV nightly at 8 p.m. ET.

False Distortions = Propoganda

What I Saw At Family Immigration Processing Centers In Texas

1/25/2020 - Alexandra Wilkes Townhall.com

Earlier this month, I spent a week in Texas touring family immigration processing centers operated by private sector contractors under contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I know that some of what I saw might be difficult for hardened critics to believe. They've painted a picture in their own minds and for others of conditions based on politically-motivated rhetoric rather than facts and first-hand observation on the ground. Here’s what I saw:

Children weren’t in cages. They were in classrooms and on playgrounds.

While touring a facility that was opened under the Obama administration to house migrant families together, I saw children eagerly listening to story time and doing science experiments. They were learning with the help of computers, tablets, and smart boards. From all that they’ve gone through to get there, the kids looked engaged and comfortable. They freely walked throughout the campus with their mothers on foot or were in strollers provided by the facility. There were toys and a library with over 20,000 books in a variety of languages. Kids were visited by Santa Claus on Christmas and got cupcakes on their birthdays. You can’t coach the kind of genuine laughter and smiles I saw in the places that weren’t even part of the tour.

Nobody was drinking out of toilets, but there is an all-you-can-eat salad bar.

It might make a catchy headline, but it’s simply not reality. Everywhere I went, there was plenty of fresh water – in bottles, coolers, and water fountains.

At these facilities, residents get three hot meals a day, and the parents and kids have access to free milk, fresh fruit, and other snacks at all times in their living quarters. Many items like rice, beans, salad, and tortillas are all-you-can-eat. If a mom needs formula, she gets it for free. If residents have religious or medical dietary restrictions, they’re accommodated. They even poll the residents to see what types of food and regional cuisines they would prefer. The dining areas were clean and orderly, and the food smelled great (and I’m picky).

Health, and particularly mental health, was clearly a priority.

No matter your position on immigration, we can all agree that many of the people crossing our borders have experienced unimaginable trauma. At the centers I toured, residents are immediately screened at intake for conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I noticed signs posted in the dormitories (in multiple languages) listing the symptoms of these problems and imploring residents to seek help from their on-site psychologist. One center even had a therapy dog on hand to assist residents.

At these facilities, there are multiple “urgent care” type centers where patients are seen the same day for ailments. The medical centers were filled with staff – the doctors and nurses are actually federal employees, not contractors. There were no long lines of patients waiting to be seen. Additionally, residents have access to dental care and vaccinations, and for many, it’s the first time they’ve ever had access to these kinds of resources. As for personal hygiene supplies, residents have unlimited free access to essential items like toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine products. 

The staff keep up the facilities – not the residents. 

One of the first things that I noticed in these family processing centers was that there were staff members everywhere, including a number doing maintenance and cleaning work. The daily fresh linens residents receive or the prepared food? The facility takes care of that.

Only if they want to earn money – which they often either send home or save up for the next leg of their journey – residents can volunteer to assist the center with light sweeping, dusting, and other minor cleaning tasks. Congress first established these voluntary work programs in the 1950s. All of the money goes directly into residents’ accounts, and contractors are required to run the program to benefit the residents, not themselves. There’s plenty of staff to do the work, but these programs are popular with residents who want to stay busy and put some money in their pocket upon release.

Private sector does not mean no oversight. Quite the contrary.

A common misconception about contractor-operated facilities is that their affiliation with for-profit companies means that they can cut corners with no oversight. One visit to a family processing center will quickly refute these notions. There are watchful eyes everywhere, including the dozens of federal ICE personnel working permanently on-site, company and independent auditors, legal and humanitarian advocates, chaplains, priests and other religious volunteers, and state health and child welfare inspectors. Moreover, the very legal organizations that are often advocating for these facilities’ abolition are given constant access to meet with the residents confidentially. 

The bottom line is this: the immigration debate is heated enough without false distortions about the type of treatment contractors provide. After my visits, I am confident that the systems established across multiple administrations – Democrat and Republican – are today delivering humane, respectful, and dignified treatment to families caught up in the U.S. immigration system.

Common Sense - Reason - Creates Meaningful Solutions

The Israel-US Model Has Been a Resounding Success

1/23/2020 - Victor Davis Hanson Townhall.com

Whether by accident or by deliberate osmosis, Israel and the U.S. have adopted similar solutions to their existential problems.

Before 2002, during the various Palestinian intifadas, Israel suffered hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries from suicide bombers freely crossing from the West Bank and Gaza into Israel.

In response, Israel planned a vast border barrier. The international community was outraged. The Israeli left called the idea nothing short of "apartheid."

However, after the completion of the 440-mile border barrier -- part concrete well, part wire fencing -- suicide bombings and terrorist incursions into Israel declined to almost nil.

The wall was not entirely responsible for enhanced Israeli security. But it freed up border manpower to patrol more vigorously. The barrier also was integrated with electronic surveillance and tougher laws against illegal immigration.

The wall also brought strategic and political clarity. Those who damned Israel but freely crossed its borders sounded incoherent when they became furious that the barrier prevented access to the hated Zionist entity.

The Trump administration is currently seeking funds to create new border walls and replace old, porous fencing in order to stem illegal immigration on the southern border.

The strategy seems similar: The wall will free up manpower for better border policing. It likewise provides a certain political clarity. The United States is often criticized by Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is now being taken to task for the effort to make it more difficult to illegally enter such a supposedly unwelcome and hostile landscape.

For years, Israel's great weakness was its dependence on imported energy, while its neighboring enemies grew rich exporting oil and natural gas. Yet in the last decade, Israel has ramped up production to take advantage of its vast natural gas reserves -- to the point that it is not just self-sufficient in fossil fuels but soon will become a major exporter.

Now, Israel cannot be threatened economically by either Iran or various Persian Gulf monarchies. Its economy is stronger than ever. Europeans suddenly are more accommodating, given that Israel may well become a natural gas exporter to a fuel-hungry Europe.

Like Israel, but unlike Europe, the U.S. was eager to frack and horizontally drill to tap vast new fossil fuel reserves. The change in U.S. strategic energy independence is similarly astounding.

America is now the largest producer of natural gas and oil in the world. Its output has increased world supply, dropped prices and hurt America's oil-exporting enemies.

The relative power of Russia and Middle Eastern nations, such as Iran, over U.S. decision-making has radically diminished -- along with the need to station huge numbers of American troops in the volatile Middle East.

As in Israel, opponents either argued that more drilling would ruin the environment or that it would not work. They seem to be wrong on both counts.

Israel's foreign policy could be called Jacksonian. Israel allies with friends, neutrals and former enemies whenever they share particular strategic goals.

In the topsy-turvy Middle East, Israel is now sometimes a strategic partner with formerly hostile regimes in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies. They all share greater fears of theocratic Iran and its terrorist appendages in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

Apparently, much of the Arab world is no longer as interested in the Palestinian desire to destroy Israel. Many Palestinian groups are allied with a despised Iran, while many Arabs believe that Israel's strength can sometimes be strategically useful.

Current American realism is similar. The U.S. is neither isolationist nor an interventionist nation-builder. Its foreign-policy goals are to enhance its military, expand its already powerful economy, limit its strategic exposure, and bank its resulting hard and soft power to use only as a deterrent force against those who kill Americans or endanger U.S. interests.

Instead of cajoling allies to join us in expeditionary wars abroad, the U.S. increasingly appears reluctant to intervene, especially in the Middle East. As a result, former critics are now becoming suppliants requesting U.S. assistance.

As with Israel, the U.S. is less eager to apply political litmus tests to its occasional allies. It also seeks to avoid quagmires where its overwhelming conventional firepower can be neutralized by terrorists and urban guerrillas.

The promoters of these unconventional policies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, are both despised by their respective establishments and under constant threat of removal by their livid political opponents.

Yet they both have transformed their respective countries. Their policies remind us that it is sometimes preferable to be respected rather than just be liked -- and that when a nation is strong and does not beg for help, it often finds more than it needs.